Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-05-10
~ Weekly 1ntelngencer
LANCASTER, MAY 10. 1857.
Eyerybedy Suited.

81 Our friends OF the Philadelphia Record
ooom to be advocates Of free trade, pure
nd simple, and TO love it because it is free
tEads, and quite regardless Of anything out
~ the beautyof the idea. Theyabhora tariff
beeause 1t levies tax, unmindful that tax.
otion attends civilization, or objecting to
NJ other than direct mode of collecting
~ The Record, and the few who agree
With II, are quite solitary in the world, the
universal disposition bring to collect reve-
me- upon exports or imports, or both.
Thsre u no party in this country that pre-
tsnds to desire to do away with tariff
duties, and it Is only theorists who
talk Of 1t. The Records present injury is
that agreater amount has been raised from
iron importations during the past than
during the previous year a fact which
seems to show that the iron duties are not
prOhibitory but revenue imposts, and such
( - arc demanded by the only free trade
oontiment in the country that is strong
enough to sustain party. As the
protecti0nists are not asking an
Increase Of the duties on iron manufac.
tures, and the FREQ traders subscribe to a
tari6 for revenue, it would seem that all
parties would be suited by the iron duties
% their working is stated by the Record.
But these results do not show all that they
s Deem to do, as we are bound in fairness to
ny, and there is room for the revenue
refOrmers to object to the iron duties gen.
orally as prohibitory. The iron importa.
tions do amount to much, save in the
shape Of steel and steel ores which come,
despite the duty, because we do not pro.
duce them here in sufficient quantity OF
Of sufficient cheapness,~
The diversion tosteel of so many of the
Old uses Of jna1k M ssss vne iron manufac
tXz61n a sufficiently humble frame o.
mind to keep their prices below the foreigl
prices and when they are otherwise disposed
they are quickly brought to their senses b,
foreign importations; as has lately hap
pened. There is no such activity in tn
iron manufacturing business at present a
calls for a reduction in the duties on iron
In Bessemer steel manufacture there i
much greater activity; doubtless a reduc
tion could be endured by this indu try
though even now under favoring circum
stances rail fmportations are possible.
The conditions Of iron manufacturin.
are changing very much, and the strons
probability is that before very long ther,
VIII be such competition at home that ths
4 duty upon iron will cease to be
the manufacturers anxiety. The many
S blast furnaces that are being erect.
ID, and the tremendous capacity to
which they have been raised, is sure to over.
4 etock the market some day, and continue
the struggle for the survival of the fittest
which has ever marked the history Of this
3 Industry. 8
The tariff question is good one to talk
about, but it is one which will settle itself.
Parties In this country have used it for a
football from time immemorial, and no
great change in the situation takes place
whatever party takes power. Some
dAy natural conditions may bring
~ even to the Records free trade,
ana TO direct taxation for the gov.
osnment support; but it will not be until
NJ country's manufacturing industry will
not bear the slightest hindrance to the freest
exportation to the markets of the world.